Self-winding wristlet watch



June 26, 1934. 1,963,976

J. FARRET SELF WINDING WRISTLET WATCH Filed June 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Fig. I.

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Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-WINDING WRISTLETWATCH Application June 15, 1931, Serial No. 544,403 In France July 19,1930 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to self-winding wristlet watches and hasmore particular reference to the type of said watches which are woundupautomatically by the respective movements of the wristlet or wristbandrelative to the watch.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a self-windingwristlet watch that does not depend for its winding-up power upon anyintentional physical action of handling same by the wearer for examplein the putting on or taking off the watch from the wrist.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-winding wristletwatch adapted to utilize for its winding-up power any unintentionalrelative movements between the wristlet and watch case such as arecaused by the normal expansion, contraction or distortion of the wearerswrist during the time the watch is being worn whereby the winding-up ofthe watch motionwork is entirely automatic and independent from anywearer's volition as long as he carries the watch upon his wrist.

A still further object o! the invention is to provide a self-windingwristlet watch whose winding mechanism requires but little energy, isentirely concealed, most durable n use and capable of being harmonizedwith the current style and requirements.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a self-windingwristlet watch that only requires to be worn on the wrist in the usualor ordinary manner in order to wind itself without the assistance of anymovable or oscillating momentum-creating part that is to say without anybeats, while being automatically protected against over-winding.

With these and such other objects in view as will incidentally appearhereafter, the invention comprises the novel combination, constructionand arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying diagrammaticdrawings forming a part of the present disclosure, and while there isshown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that thesame is susceptible of modiflcation and change without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the watch case with the lid inopened out position, assuming the motionwork or movement of the watch tobe omitted, this view illustrating the wristband or strap tragmentarilyalso the swivel connection between the watch case and one of the loopsto which said band or strap is attached.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line IIIIII ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a face view on an enlarged scale of the mechanisms accordingto the invention for winding-up the watch and precluding over-windmg.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the plane passing through the line VVof Figure 4 but showing the winding-up mechanism, the retainingmechanism and the mainspring drum or barrel relatively spaced from theirposition of assembly.

Like reference characters designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

In the watch case 1 which may be of any approved stylish shape anddesign and adjacent one of its ends is arranged a revoluble pivot pin afreely passing through the opposite side walls of said case and carryingexternally two longitudinally projecting arms b substantially parallelto each other and connected together at their free ends to form a loopor buckle by a cross rod it around which the wristband or wristlet S(formed for instance by a strap of leather or fabric) is passed andattached, for example by stitches in the usual way. Intermediate itsends which are advantageously journalled in bearing blocks 9 therevoluble pivot pin a carries rigidly a biturcated lug c.

A reciprocatable rod 3 formed at its outwardly directed end with anenlargement 2 holding same in permanent engagement with the bifurcatedlug c has its inwardly directed pointed end in engagement with anotch-4' formed in a lever 4 pivoted at 5 about the geometrical axis ofthe mainspring forming part 01' the motionwork or movement of usualconstruction, said motionwork not being shown as it forms no part of theinvention.

The lower end of the lever 4 has a stud 6 engaging in a. slot 7 formedin an underlying lever 8 which is pivoted at 9 to the lower arm or lobeof a three-armed or trilobed star member or spider 10 rotatable aboutthe axis 5. The other two arms or lobes of this star member carry studs11, 12 bearing against the periphery of a rotatable winding disk 13having a central screw 14 (see Fig. 5) to which the arbor 15 of themainspring (not shown) is attached. A projecting nose 16 on theunderlying lever 8 is adapted to grip the periphery of said disk 13 uponclockwise angular motion of the lever 4 responsive to each longitudinalmovement of the connecting rod 3 in the direction shown by the dottedarrow in Figures 2 and 3, whereupon the disk 13 is gripped between saidnose 16 and said studs 11, 12 and consequently partakes of said angularmotion to impart a winding movement to the mainspring of the watchmechanism or motionwork.

Thus the lever 4 with the star member 10, the studs 11, 12 and theunderlying lever 8 constitute a winding-up mechanism having aone-directional grip on the winding disk 13. The nose 16 of theunderlying lever 8 is constrained to engage the disk in this directionby a spring bow 17 rigidly held at one end by a screw 20.

Figure shows that the disk 13 has a central hub 13 on which a secondthree-armed or trilobed star member or spider is rotatably mounted (butshown relatively spaced for clearness of illustration). This second starmember 10 has two studs 11 12, (see also Fig. 4) which bear on theperiphery of the disk 13, and a lever B pivoted at 9 to the third arm orlobe which has a nose 16 adapted to engage said periphery to preventanti-clockwise rotation of the disk 13. It will be clear that theseparts constitute a retaining mechanism mounted to grip the disk 13 toprevent the opposite rotation thereof.

A spring bow 17 rigidly held at one end by a screw acts by its oppositeor free end on the lever 8 which, together with its supporting starmember 10a is displaceable between stops 18, 19 only when the mainspringof the motionwork sets up suflicient opposite thrust to overcome thepressure of the spring-influenced lever 17.

The operation is briefly as follows:

Any normal expansion, contraction or distortion of the wearers wrist orfore-arm during the time the watch is being worn results in a swivelingmotion of the loop a-b-c--d carrying the wristlet S with respect to thebearing blocks 9 and to the watch case 1. This swiveling motion istransmitted by the lug c to the rod 3 which is thus spasmodicallyreciprocated and causes a clockwise rotation of the lever 4 and of thewinding-up disk 13 in the manner already described. During thisrotation, the disk 13 is free to turn between the studs 11, 12 and nose16 of the retaining mechanism but immediately the rotation ceases andduring the return of the windingup mechanism, under the action of thespring bow 17, the nose 16 wedges itself against the disk 13 to retainthe latter. At this time, of course, the nose 16 of the lever 8pertaining to the winding-up mechanism unlocks the grip, thus allowingsaid mechanism to return in readiness for the next clockwise winding-uprotation. The action is repeated each time a movement of the wearersfore-arm or wrist results in a swiveling motion of the loop membera-b-c-d and in a longitudinal displacement of the connecting rod 3,whereby successive winding-up movements are automatically imparted tothe mainspring of the motionwork of the watch.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the retaining mechanism isinoperative while the winding-up mechanism is in action, but isoperative at all other times.

The bow spring 1'7 keeps the lever 8 pressed against the stop 18 whenthe main spring is only slightly wound up. Further winding of the mainspring causes its increasing backward presence to move the lever 8 awayfrom the stop 18 and compress thespring 17. The limit of compression ofthe spring 1'7 occurs when the main spring has been wound to such anextent that the lever 8 strikes the stop 19. When this OCGIA S movementsof the lever 4, caused by expansions and contractions of the wrist donot wind the main spring further, but merely cause the lever 8 to swingbetween the stops 18 and 19 without permitting the nose 16 of lever 8 tomove to a new place on the edge of the winding disc 13. Consequentlyoverwinding of the main spring is obviated, since further windingthereof does not occur until it has run down sufficiently to permit thelever 8 to strike the stop 18 and release the nose 16 from disc 13before the lever 4 has fin ished its movement in the anti-clockwisedirecion.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a wristlet watch theconstructional system of which can be made rugged, durable and stylishand that is wound-up in an entirely automatic way without any volitionof the wearer by the mere action due to the normal expansion,contraction and distortion of his wrist or fore-arm while he wears hiswatch, so that it is quite impossible for the watch to stop owing to nothaving been wound-up, whereby the going of said watch may be regarded asperpetual as long as it is worn.

Modifications of a constructional nature might of course be introducedwithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A self-winding wristlet watch comprising, in combination with themotionwork of usual construction contained in the watch case, a windingmember engaging the mainspring arbor, a oneway pivotable clamp grippingthe periphery of said member, a rocking lever pivotally connected tosaid clamp, reciprocatable means connected to the wristlet and engagingsaid lever and swiveled in the watch case for transmitting to therocking lever spasmodic impulses due to the stresses imparted to thewristlet by the natural movements of the wearers wrist, and a secondoneway pivotable clamp gripping the winding member alternately to thefirst-named clamp during the return of the reciprooatable means.

2. A self-winding wristlet watch comprising, in combination with themotionwork of usual construction contained in the watch case, a windingdisk engaging the mainspring arbor, a one-way pivotable plate fittedwith spaced studs contacting with the periphery of the disk, a leverpivoted to said plate and gripping the disk in one direction ofrotation, a rocking lever pivoted at one end to the gripping lever, areciprocatable rod engaging the opposite end of the rocking lever, aloop swiveled in the watch case and engaging said rod, said loop beingconnected to the wristlet for transmitting to the rocking lever andwinding disk spasmodic impulses due to the stresses imparted to thewristlet by the natural movements of the wearers wrist, a second onewaypivotable plate fitted with spaced studs contacting with the peripheryof the disk, and a lever pivoted to said last-named plate and grippingthe disk alternately to the first-named gripping lever during the returnof the rocking lever and loop.

3. A self-winding wristlet watch comprising, in combination with themotionwork of usual construction contained in the watch case, a windingdisk engaging the mainspring arbor, a one-way pivotable trilobed platehaving two of its lobes fitted with a stud contacting with the peripheryof the disk, a spring-influenced lever pivoted to said plate and shapedat its inner end for gripping the disk in one direction of rotation, arocking lever pivoted at one end to the gripping lever, a reciprocatablerod engaging the opposite end of the rocking lever, a loop swiveled inthe watch case and engaging said rod, said loop being connected to thewristlet for transmitting to the rocking lever and winding diskspasmodic impulses due, to the stresses imparted to the wristlet by thenatural movements of the wearers wrist, a second one-way pivotabletrilobed plate having two of its lobes oifset from the lobes of theother plate fitted with a stud contacting with the periphery of thedisk, a spring-influenced lever pivoted to said second plate and shapedat its inner end for gripping and retaining the disk alternately to thefirst-named gripping -lever during the return of the rocking lever andloop, and stops limiting the pivotal stroke of the retaining lever.

4. A self-winding wristlet watch comprising, in combination with themotionwork of usual construction contained in the watch case, a windingdisk engaging the mainspring arbor, a one-way pivotable trilobed platehaving two of its lobes fitted with a stud contacting with the peripheryof the disk, a spring-influenced lever pivoted to said plate andnose-shaped at its inner end for gripping the disk in one direction ofrotation, a lever rocking on the disk axis and pivoted-at one end to thegripping lever, a reciprocatable pointed rod engaging a notch in theopposite end of the rocking lever, a loop swiveled in the watch case andengaging said rod, said loop being connected to the wristlet fortransmitting to the rocking lever and winding disk spasmodic impulsesresponsive to the stresses imparted to. the wristlet by the naturalmovements of the wearer's wrist, a second one-way pivotable trilobedplate having two of its Y lobes ofiset from the lobes of the other platefitted with a stud contacting with the periphery oi the disk, a leverpivoted to said second plate and noseshaped at its inner end forgripping and retaining the disk alternately to the first-named grippingI lever during the return of the rocking lever and 5. In combination, awrist watch, a wrist strap, and means responsive to movements of saidstrap due to expansions and contractions of the wrist for winding saidwatch.

6. In combination, a wrist watch, a wrist strap, winding means for saidwatch, and operating mechanism for said winding means interposed betweenone end of said strap and said winding means and responsive to theexpansions and contractions of the wrist during normal use.

7. In a wrist watch, a wrist strap, and winding means for said watch towhich said wrist strap is connected operated by normal expansions andcontractions of the wrist.

8. In a wrist watch, a wrist strap, and winding means for said watch towhich said wrist strap is connected, said means comprising a memberwhich is moved sufficiently, by changes in the size of a wrist duringnormal use, to operate said winding means.

9. In a. wrist watch, a wrist strap, and winding means for said watch towhich said wrist strap is connected, said means comprising a memberwhich oscillates sufliciently, during changes in the size of the wristin normal use, to operate said winding means.

10. In combination, a wrist watch, a. wrist strap, and means responsiveto variations in tension on said strap due to expansions andcontractions of the wrist for winding said watch, and a spring to returnsaid winding means.

11. In combination, a wrist watch, a wrist strap,

and oscillatable spring winding means responsive to variations intension on said strap due to expansions and contractions of the wristfor winding said watch, and a spring to return said winding means. I

12. In combination, a wrist watch, a wrist strap,

and means responsive to variations in the tension of said strap due toexpansions and contractions of the wrist watch for winding said watch,said means comprising winding mechanism for the main spring of saidwatch and a return spring for said winding mechanism.

JACQUES FARRET.

